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The discussion in the Petrof thread inspired this one. I routinely service many old uprights with open faced blocks here, and every single one of them still feels great. Nice feel, nice and stable. Don't know if it's coincidence or not, but through the years it seems like the open designs have held up much better through the years.

One advantage I see is that the coils are much closer to the block with the absence of the plate there. I believe it makes a firmer and more reliable anchor. Anyway, just my .02!

I also like the feel of open face blocks and I suspect they hold up better. Here is why: leverage! The further the becket is from the block, the more force the block must hold up against.

I remember an odd problem with a Baldwin Studio. A plate bushing was missing. The pin hung down due to the string's force and did not have enough torque to hold pitch. I put in a bushing and it was then OK. The block was not up to the task with the leverage involved.

And then there is the added length of pin that twists and untwists as you tune. The less there is, the less you have to deal with.

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Jeff DeutschlePart-Time TunerWho taught the first chicken how to peck?

I'm wondering: if there are so many evident advantages to an open-face pinblock, why has a closed face (be it with or without plate bushings) essentially become the industry norm? I would think that a closed-face design is actually more intricate to manufacture?

I'm wondering: if there are so many evident advantages to an open-face pinblock, why has a closed face (be it with or without plate bushings) essentially become the industry norm? I would think that a closed-face design is actually more intricate to manufacture?

Very good question, Mark. I'm guessing it's a strength issue in regards to the plate, but I could be wrong. Del would be a good one to offer input on that.

Yes Dan, that's what I was getting at. The previous posts allude to a perceived benefit of not having the plate material there which allows the pins and coils to go deeper into and closer to the block, thereby increasing tuning stability, but isn't the decorative wood essentially doing the same thing as the plate had been in this regard? as I look at this particular photo, it seems the decorative covering is about the same thickness as the plate....although I could definitely be mistaken.

There is also between 25 and 30% more tuning pin (thread) in contact with the pin block. This means that the pin will potentially maintain its torque for a longer time/more tunings.

Not quite Jurgen, as the pins are longer when the plate covers the pinblock .

The torque is better anyway (when the use of plate bushings was supposed to help the pinblock, I guess it is when the block is not the best quality, it allowed in fact to use cheaper and thinner blocks initially)

An open block will ovalise if not well treated by the tuner, anyway.

I have seen the sketches of differnt pinblocks illustrated in the "Forss". he state that the Yamaha pinblock have a metal plate on both sides, did you notice that (it can be for vertical blocks as grands, but I believe verticals)

Edited by Kamin (12/14/1202:36 PM)

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